LEADERSHIP
FIVE BABY STEPS FOR BECOMING A MORE DIVERSE WORSHIP TEAM | Brian Fuller
One of my greatest joys of worship ministry
learn to appreciate new music.
rehearsal and having someone tell you we will
has been watching my teams grow not only
now be attempting a reggae version of Amazing
spiritually, but also in diversity. That diversity is Over the last ten years, in my ambition to Grace! Give your team time to prepare while
not only reflected in age, gender and race, but become more diverse musically, I have you cast vision for the new upcoming changes.
also in the cultural and musical influences of made quite a few pretty big mistakes! I am our worship team. Because of this wonderful summarizing the learning points here to help 4. STAY AUTHENTIC
thing, I have benefited from it tremendously you avoid making them on your own. It is important to make sure you are not forcing
in my growth and knowledge as a musician. people to be inauthentic. This is why you need
Something magical happens when we surround to work closely with outside musicians, work
ourselves with people who are different than us. FIVE BABY STEPS FOR BECOMING A MORE DIVERSE hard to recruit new, diverse musicians and
I believe that we become more of who God has WORSHIP TEAM expose yourself to new styles constantly. Find
called us to be! I love how the last book of the
New Testament describes this scene…
the right people in your church to deliver the
1. LISTEN TO MUSIC YOU DON’T LIKE right emotion. The vocalist should be your top
I know this sounds brash but, if you truly want priority. Take it slow and don’t go too crazy!
After this I looked, and behold, a great to become diverse musically, you will need to multitude that no one could number, from expose yourself to genres and songs that you 5. LESS IS MORE
every nation, from all tribes and peoples and typically would skip on a playlist. The reason Once
languages, standing before the throne and you are not diverse now is because your more diverse it is easy to want to see results
before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with preferences are too personal. All the songs overnight. Trust me, it takes a while. This is
palm branches in their hands, and crying out you pick now are songs you love. The problem something you need to move forward in slowly.
with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our is that your window of opportunity is now Make sure you don’t sacrifice who God has
God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” limited by your own lack of exposure to great made you to be in the process. Simply work
- Revelation 7:9-10 new music. Expand your horizons now! Use on adding new elements to your set each and
you
get
excited
about
becoming
a service like Spotify and create a playlist in a every week. Like any change, take your time.
As musicians, it is often intimidating to think genre you don’t currently love. If you want to do Culture shock doesn’t look good on anyone.
about incorporating new styles and genres more Urban Gospel music, then make a play into our set. Mainly because we don’t truly list of some amazing gospel artists like Fred As your team becomes more and more diverse,
understand them, or we simply don’t have Hammond, Tye Tribett, Travis Greene or Tasha the big winner is your church congregation
experience in those particular styles. As Cobbs and listen to it while you drive to work. and your community! They will truly be able to
such, we must be intentional! We must put Soon you will start to really enjoy it and you will worship to their hearts cry and not be stuck to
down all of our excuses and fears and move want to play those songs on Sunday. one person’s personal musical preferences.
towards making our worship teams a true
Watch God open up the flood gates of your
representation of our society. Think about the 2. INVITE GUEST MUSICIANS ministry and bring you a harvest like you’ve
amazing results your ministry could benefit Every musician comes with different skills never seen!
from bringing together a more diverse group of and experiences. There are people in your musicians and vocalists and begin to expand community that are experts in certain fields. your set-list tenfold. Have them come to your church and partner
with them to help take your team to the next
Having a diverse team does not happen level. They are probably looking for someone
overnight. Be patient, pray a lot, and ask God just like you to help them as well.
to send you the right people to help you. Pray
for humility as you will be stretched outside 3. PREPARE YOUR TEAM
your comfort zones as a musician and as you There is not much worse than showing up to a
44
April 2020
Brian Michael Fuller
Brian is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and
worship musician who currently serves as the
worship leader at several churches in North Carolina.
You can hear some of his original production music
at www.fullertime.com.
www.FullerTime.com
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